Work Happy Hours

Charlie Don't Surf · Mar 21, 2014

so a guy is having his "goodbye" happy hour before he leaves our company for a slightly different hellhole, and I'm decent enough pals with him, but he didn't really work here long enough for it to feel 'mandatory' to go.

now that I'm at the end of the day I REALLY don't want to go, but I already told 2 people I would be going

I hate these stupid work / corporate / games / etiquette or whatever. More leaning to the "don't want to go" is that zero of my... 5 bosses above me are there, so there's not really much like, corporate ladder theory (lol) at work here.

I could go and mostly ignore people and watch basketball, I guess. But the place it's at doesn't exactly have great TV placement for watching more than one game.

I'm basically talking myself out of it here and don't really need to push post but I came this far

Dave · Mar 21, 2014

You realize once there you may have fun.

Charlie Don't Surf · Mar 21, 2014

Most of the conversation doesn't rise much above "let me tell you about the new gun I bought", various date rape strategies, or which strip club they're going to later. Some times before I've gone and frantically done the calculation of "how long do I have to stay to seem normal".

Ravenpoe · Mar 21, 2014

Eventually, people learned to stop asking if I would be going to the office party/corporate get together/whatever stupid morale boost idea of the week, because the answer was always no.

Chad Sexington · Mar 21, 2014

Well you have the option to guide the conversation, and be all, "Let me tell you about Apocalypse Now..." or something. But hey, as a manager and employee, I am not offended/concerned if people turn down an office event, and I don't sweat it if I turn down an invitation by my higher-ups. Sometimes it's just not people's thing.

WasabiPoptart · Mar 21, 2014

I'm probably too late for this answer to matter (as if it would anyway). I think since you told some people you'd be there that you should show up for 30 minutes or a bit longer. However, now you know for next time that when asked to attend one of these functions you should reply "I'd rather swallow my own tongue than spend my free time with you troglodytes".

ThatNickGuy · Mar 21, 2014

I say you go to the party and try to shoehorn your way into every conversation possible, generally ignoring what was said for the first 20 minutes of said conversation, spout your opinion, then move on to the next conversation while they stand there aghast and/or confused.

Oh, and defend every woman being hit on, whether they want the help or not.

And then fornicate with the rent-a-cop in the mail room.

Covar · Mar 24, 2014

Charlie Don't Surf said:
Most of the conversation doesn't rise much above "let me tell you about the new gun I bought", various date rape strategies, or which strip club they're going to later. Some times before I've gone and frantically done the calculation of "how long do I have to stay to seem normal".

It's march. Talk basketball.

Tinwhistler · Mar 24, 2014

I don't know why you feed into the Happy Hour Culture that so permeates our daily lives.

All it does is feed into the Bro-ciety's bias toward partying and having fun.

Officer_Charon · Mar 25, 2014

What the hell is a "happy hour?"

I presume it's just an office party thing?

Free food? Free drinks (either alcoholic or non)? Honestly, it sounds as though the drones around you aren't exactly the most scintillating of conversationalists, so either of the above would have to be a factor.

Espy · Mar 25, 2014

Charlie Don't Surf said:
Most of the conversation doesn't rise much above "let me tell you about the new gun I bought", various date rape strategies, or which strip club they're going to later. Some times before I've gone and frantically done the calculation of "how long do I have to stay to seem normal".

Well, it's Houston right? What else would you talk about?

Dave · Mar 25, 2014

Officer_Charon said:
What the hell is a "happy hour?"

I presume it's just an office party thing?

Free food? Free drinks (either alcoholic or non)? Honestly, it sounds as though the drones around you aren't exactly the most scintillating of conversationalists, so either of the above would have to be a factor.

No, it's basically, "everyone goes to the bar after work". No free drinks. No free booze. Just a little extra time to hang out with the people you work with in a more personal setting.

Officer_Charon · Mar 25, 2014

Oh, just like a watch party, then.

Although probably fewer stories about amusing calls and fights with people. Probably.

Dave · Mar 25, 2014

Officer_Charon said:
Oh, just like a watch party, then.

Although probably fewer stories about amusing calls and fights with people. Probably.

More like bitching about customers and those people who felt they were too good to show up.

Shakey · Mar 25, 2014

Some bars do have happy hour specials. Half off appetizers or buy one get one free drinks. Stuff like that.

sixpackshaker · Mar 25, 2014

Officer_Charon said:
Oh, just like a watch party, then.

Although probably fewer stories about amusing calls and fights with people. Probably.

I got turned down by a cop once, she said she only dated cops because they have interesting days. They talk about kicking in doors and arresting bad guys, not balancing an account's books. Well... she first said cops were her type, but really just the guys on the SWAT team, not really guys on the SWAT team they had to be Lt's or Captains. Then I let her know that she was Psychotic.

Officer_Charon · Mar 25, 2014

Badge bunny of the highest order, with a dash of gold-digger. Nice.

Just Me · Mar 25, 2014

sixpackshaker said:
I got turned down by a cop once, she said she only dated cops because they have interesting days. They talk about kicking in doors and arresting bad guys, not balancing an account's books. Well... she first said cops were her type, but really just the guys on the SWAT team, not really guys on the SWAT team they had to be Lt's or Captains. Then I let her know that she was Psychotic.

A friend of mine, a cop, used to date fellow cop girls because they brought their own handcuffs and knew how to use them and vice versa or something. One kinky bastard, but a great guy allround nonetheless.

Wow, did that sound like O_C and I are friends of old?

Mathias · Mar 30, 2014

Fun fact, happy hour is an offshoot of cocktail hour - a designated time before dinner to visit a speakeasy before heading out to a dining establishment which wouldn't have alcohol available.

I find it interesting how much prohibition has had an influence on a lot of modern American culture.

Anyway, I usually get together with a few of my personal friends (not coworkers) for happy hour on Wednesdays after work. 1/2 off on wings and good beer off the tap is always a nice break midweek.

Don't the Japanese take happy hour to a whole other level?